CERF Questions and Answers

Q Does CERF only care for geldings?
A When CERF was founded, its primary goal was to care for those geldings who distinguished themselves over the years at the racetrack and were well known by the racing fans of Southern California. Horses such as Bedouin, Executive Chef, & Buen Chico are good examples of how the process began. Over the course of time, the ranch's role changed and expanded to also include those geldings and mares in need of retirement and/or rehabilitation into other careers.

Q How does someone sponsor a horse in retirement?
A Many of our horses are sent to us by their owners who seek a safe and caring environment for them. Our horses come to us through various means and the majority of them have no one to support them. We rely on aid from sponsors to provide for their upkeep. Click here to find out how you can help.

Q Does CERF sell or offer adoption of its rehabilitated horses?
A CERF neither sells nor buys horses. They come to us through owners and/or trainers and are diagnosed as to whether they are capable of going on - both emotionally and physically - into other careers, or be retired.

If adoption is diagnosed, it is based upon a fairly strict policy that basically requires the potential adopter to "fit" the adoptee through riding and spending quality time with the horse.

If all is in order, such as the environment in which the horse is to be housed and an agreed upon donation is reached, the potential owner signs an adoption agreement and the horse is released to him or her. Since CERF has been in existence, we have placed more than 300 horses into adoption.

Q Does CERF accept volunteer help?
A With some qualifications, yes. We can always use help at the ranch with many of the nitty-gritty things that need doing -- mucking stalls, grooming, weeding, repair work on facilities, and so forth. We do not allow volunteers to handle the horses unless they are experienced and this is limited to grooming and turning horses out into their respective turnout areas. Exercising and training is handled solely by CERF's paid, qualified ranch personnel, thus we hope to avoid the danger that could exist for both horse and handler where inexperience is involved.

Q Can CERF be considered a "rescue" ranch or operation?
A CERF does not fall into that category, as the horses that come to the ranch are sent through their owners and/or trainers to be evaluated for placement or for retirement. They are horses that have been well cared for, but can no longer perform in their present environment due to their injuries or their inability to succeed in that particular medium. Our goal is to provide a healthy and happy future for them in retirement or in another career suitable to their abilities.